When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
~ Matthew 4:12-23
This passage, which comes after Jesus’s baptism and testing in the wilderness, starts with Jesus receiving the news about John the Baptist’s imprisonment. At first glance, it might appear that Jesus is withdrawing to Galilee because he wants to avoid the same fate. In reality, Jesus is heading into the center of the storm — not away from it. Galilee is where we find Tiberias, the city that Herod was building on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Pilate rules for Rome down in Jerusalem, but Herod calls the shots in Galilee, and it was Herod that John had upset so much.
Matthew reminds us of the true reason that Jesus returned to this region. This fulfills the prophecy found in Isaiah Chapter 9. More than just fulfilling where Jesus was going to appear, the prophecy gives us some insight into how Jesus would appear. Isaiah describes it as people who live in darkness suddenly seeing a great light. He even describes it as a “land of the shadow of death.” This is metaphorical, of course. This region of Galilee is some of the most beautiful land in all of Israel. The waters of the lake are clear, the valley around the lake is mild and pleasant for much of the year, and an abundance of streams join with the Jordan River to provide optimal conditions for raising both crops and livestock.
For many in Israel, though, the land has indeed turned dark. After the Northern Kingdom of Israel was decimated by Assyria many years before, they never returned. In fact, Assyria brought Gentiles from other places and settled them in the land. The Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin survived Babylonian exile and returned to reform Israel in Jerusalem again, but in Galilee things were not so easy. For the Jews in Jerusalem, Galilee seemed a very Gentile sort of place and darkness was one of the ways they described it.
The text goes on to say that Galilee is where Jesus chose to begin His public ministry. Preaching a message of repentance, Jesus tells anyone who will listen that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. In some ways, this sentence feels like a summary or transition to the verses that come next. Matthew tells us that Jesus approaches two sets of brothers while they practice their livelihood of fishing. We can get a little caught up in guessing what it must have been like to leave their boats, their nets, their jobs, and immediately join Jesus when he calls them. However, if we aren’t careful, we can lose sight of the real focus of the story. Through these interactions, Matthew is trying to tell us something about Jesus. It isn’t apparent in Matthew’s telling, but scholars indicate that these brothers knew who Jesus was before that fateful morning on the shoreline. He had been in Galilee for some time speaking in the synagogue and healing people. So, when He showed up on the shore and called out to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they were able to give themselves to the Kingdom in an immediate way. They join Him in the work which they see that He is already doing.
Jesus still calls today. Jesus calls these two sets of brothers and they immediately follow him. They drop everything and commit to going wherever He goes and doing whatever He needs them to do. Are we supposed to do the same? One commentator reminds us that this episode is a particular call for a particular task. Not everyone is called to drop their nets and be in full time ministry. One example is of another disciple, Joseph of Arimathea. He may not be one of the Twelve, but he is a believer and follower. He retains his profession, his status, and his wealth, and is able to use them in a precious moment of need for Jesus at the time of His crucifixion. Whatever you choose as your profession, whether it is full-time ministry or anything else, you can do it in a way that announces Jesus. I can’t reach a non-Christian police officer as well as a Christian officer can. I certainly can’t navigate the complex world of corporate finance as effectively as one who lives in that world day in and day out. The people in every vein of life need to hear that the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near, and they are most likely to listen to someone who shares their experiences.
With my background in the Churches of Christ, I haven’t had a great deal of exposure to more ecumenical things such as the Liturgical Calendar. I am, however, awakening to many of the ways such things can be useful in our faith walk. This passage is included in the liturgical calendar, particularly for the Third Sunday after Epiphany (The Great Announcement of Jesus to the World), because it marks a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry: the beginning of his public life and proclamation of the Kingdom of God in Galilee. This passage highlights Jesus’ call to discipleship, his teaching, and his healing ministry, signifying the dawn of God’s reign and the fulfillment of prophecy.
Here are six ways that Jesus is announced to the world in this short passage:
This passage announces Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew 4:12-16 connects Jesus’ move to Galilee with the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2, which spoke of a great light dawning in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This passage underscores the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the arrival of the Messiah.
This passage announces the beginning of Jesus’s public ministry. He begins teaching and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing people. It’s a crucial turning point in his life and the beginning of his mission to bring God’s reign to earth.
This passage announces Jesus’s call to discipleship. Peter, Andrew, James, and John, hear His call and decide to follow him. This emphasizes the importance of discipleship and the call to participate in the Kingdom of God.
This passage announces the themes of repentance and the Kingdom. Jesus’ preaching in Galilee focuses on repentance and the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven. This theme of repentance and the call to turn towards God is central to Christian faith and is highlighted in the liturgical calendar.
This passage announces Jesus’s focus on healing and compassion. Jesus’ ministry is characterized by compassion and healing, as he demonstrates God’s power to restore and redeem. This emphasizes the importance of compassion, mercy, and the healing power of God’s presence.
This passage announces the dawn of God’s reign. Matthew 4:12-23 portrays the beginning of God’s reign in a tangible way through Jesus’ actions and teachings. It reminds Christians of the ongoing reality of God’s kingdom and the call to live in accordance with its principles.
In essence, Matthew 4:12-23 provides a powerful foundation for the Christian faith and is a fitting passage to be included in this season of Epiphany as a reminder of Jesus’ mission, the dawn of God’s reign, and the call to discipleship. As we consider the beginnings of Jesus’ public ministry and our own journeys of faith during this season of Epiphany, consider the ways that you announce the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. I’m not talking primarily about your words, although words are important. Instead, how does your LIFE announce the presence of this Kingdom of Heaven?
Take a little bit of time to look inward, and a little bit of time to look outward. Look inside and try to identify one way that you announce Jesus with your daily life. It could be the way you conduct yourself at work or school. It could be how you intentionally handle your finances in order to be ready to provide when someone is in need. In so many ways each day, we have opportunity to announce the coming of Jesus in the way that we live. After meditating on this for a bit, take a look outward and think of one person in your life who could use a little more Kingdom of Heaven. In what way could you be intentional in your interactions with them to bring them a little closer to the Kingdom? Again, this is not necessarily done with words. God’s light shines through you and out into the darkness all around through every part of your being. People around you will notice! Then, when you do have the opportunity to speak in a meaningful way to someone, the Kingdom will have already drawn them to respond.
Spend some time in prayer thanking God for one way your life announces the Kingdom of Heaven, and then ask Him to give you an opportunity this week to interact in a more meaningful way with the person you thought of.
~ Clay
Fowlers in Japan 